Concrete placement apparatus



C. JACKSON CONCRETE PLACEMENT APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1938 ATToRNEYg March 4, 1941.

13 00 a AV V HWW 6 D a March 4; 1941. c. JACKSON CONCRETE PLACEMENT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5, 19158 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

[arm/W Mac/r60 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CON CRETE PLACEMENT APPARATUS Corwill Jackson, Ludington, Mich.

Application November 5, 1938, Serial No. 238,964

11 Claims. (Cl. 9448) This invention relates to improvements in mm Fig. is a view partly in vertical section showcrete placement apparatus, ing structural details of the means for raising The main objects of this invention are: and lowering the main vibratory element carry- First, to provide a concrete placement maing frame. 5 chine or apparatus for the placement of con- The embodiment of my invention illustrated 5 crete such as pavement, concrete slabs, walls of embodies various features of the structure shown ditches or conduits, and the like Which is of in my application for Letters Patent fixed October large capacity and highly eflicient. 14, 1938, Serial No. 234,918 and I have accord- Second, to provide a machine or apparatus of ingly illust ate 3 Suc fe of a 0 this character which is particularly well adaptpleted machine as I deem necessary to illustrate 10 ed for the placement of concrete having very low a practical embodiment of the invention of this water content and the practicing of the method application. of my Patent 1,787,449 issued January 6, 1931 It is now quit dely reco i ed t at co crete for Method of forming and molding concrete. resulting from t e P e O e method of y Third, to provide a, machine or apparatus of patent above referred to is highly desirable for 15 the character described minimizing manual pavements, and th sp ifi a s of a States labor. for example, specify the placement by the meth- Fourth, to provide a machine or apparatus of 0d disclosed in my patent. Such concrete is very the character described which. results in a sufi u t to a d e ma y ve n the atter perior treatment and placement of concrete and of fairly uniform place e 0 t f0uhdati0n- 20 insures that the entire mass of concrete is effechat is, it is commonly dump d in piles from tively subjected to vibrations necessary to practhe mixer, each batch of the mixer being delivtice my said method patent. ered more or less in a pile, the mixer being op- Fifth, to provide an improved method of placerated. in advance of the pa machine Large ing concrete pavements and similar slabs. capacity mixers are now on the market. The 25 Objects relating to details and economies of low water content of the concrete mixture frethe invention will appear from the description q t y W aggregate of eoh b e's e iS ot to follow. The invention is defined and pointed only difiic l o spre m n lly but offers v ry out in the claims. great resistance to the advancement of the pav- A preferred embodiment of the invention is ilins h ne in which the vibratory element is 30 lustrated in the accompanying drawings, in operated in submerged relationfor example, as which: shown in my said application for Letters Patent.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of a machine y present invention has for e Of its Objects or apparatus embodying my invention in operathe minimizing or substantial elimination of the tive relation topavement forms, various arts m ua la r in t sp ading f t n r te as of the machine or apparatus being omitted for m x to be t eate 9. 80 t e increasing p y convenience in clarity of illustration, other parts of the Paving machine, the reducing 0 the being conventionally shown for the same reason p wer ss y t operate t a hine. and inand for the sake of clarity, suring that all of the concrete mix is effectively Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in ver- Vib at '40 tical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a In the embodiment illustrated, l represents the preferred form of my invention or apparatus in Carriage of a paving machine P vided With a operative relation to a mass of concrete being screed 2 having a face plate 3 adapted to ppor treated and placed, certain parts being again a substantial mass of concrete as is indicated-in conventionally illustrated and other parts omit- F gs. 2 and The mountings o t e s d a e 45 ted for the sake of convenience and clarity of not illustrated as suc mountings form no p illustration. of this invention. It will be understood that the Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view partially in screed is advanced with the advancement of the section showing details of one of the elongated carriage l. horizontally disposed vibratory elements. The carriage I is provided with carrying wheels 50 Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a 4 adapted to travel on the longitudinal pavemodified form or embodiment of my invention in ment form members 5. Elongated horizontally which there are a series of three of the vidisposed vibratory members designated generbratory elements disposed in trailing or tandem ally by the numerals 6 and I are preferably R5 relation. of the type described in my said application for Letters Patent and they preferably include the motors 8, the shafts of which are provided with unbalancing weights 9. These motors are adapted to produce high frequency vibrations of the vibratory elements, preferably at least 3600 R. P. M., and they are preferably supported for vibratory movement in an orbital path. It will be understood that large amplitude vibrations are not required nor do I consider them desirable.

The vibratory members 6 and I are disposed in spaced relation so as to be advanced forwardly against the mass of concrete being treated, indicated at I 0, and they are supported in spaced relation, the spacing being preferably such that the vibrations, indicated by the concentric dotted lines I I, merge.

The vibratory element 6 is so spaced or positioned relative to the screed that the screed acts not only to support part of the material while acted upon by the element 6 but acts upon the material while it is subject to the vibrations of the element 6. The space between the elements '6 and I is open or unobstructed so that the material is free to move between them which it normally does in action with a boiling-like agitation.

The first or advance vibratory element is disposed in a plane substantially above the plane of the trailing vibratory element and is advanced into the harsh concrete mixture, servingto partially reduce it to initially workable form and to spread or level it so that the work required of the trailing vibratory element is much reduced and this permits a more rapid advancement of the machine as well as avoiding manual labor which is otherwise necessary for the fairly uniform spreading of the concrete mass and, as stated, this is very difficult owing to its harsh or low water content. If any spreading is desired after the material has been subjected to the action of the first vibratory element, it may be done without severe manual labor.

The rear vibratory element is preferably mounted for vertical adjustmentfirst, in order to insure that it be properly positioned to thoroughly vibrate the mass and properly support it in submerged position relative to the screed, and second, that it is necessary to raise and lower it to pass the transverse joints of the pavement and the operating position so far as elevation is concerned is sometimes determined by the reinforcing elements within the concrete.

The main vibrating element carriage designated generally by the numeral I2 is that illustrated in my said application and comprises the push rods 13 which are pivotally mounted at M on the carriage l for vertical swinging movement. The frame further comprises the end members l5 and the tubular cross member l6, the end members being mounted on the push red by means. of clamps IT. The end members carry the bellcrank-shaped wheel support l8 having wheels IS on their forwardly projecting arms adapted to travel on the forms 5. These supports iii are connected by the links I 8 to the hydraulic actuating means designated generally by the numeral-2'6 and adapted to rock the wheel supports on their pivots 2| thereby raising or lowering the frame and consequently the vibratory elements carried thereby. The plunger rod 2% is connected to the link I8 and to the arm I20 on the rock shaft l2l, the rockshaft having an arm I20 at its other end connected to the wheel support I8 through a link 18' so that a single hydraulic unit serves to actuate both wheel supports l8 simultaneously and uniformly.

There are preferably two of the vibratory elements 5 disposed in end to end relation as shown in Fig. 1. These are mounted on the brackets 22 by means of the flexible non-resilient hangers 23 and the flexible non-resilient draft members 24 so that when vibrated as a result of the unbalanced rotor, the vibratory elements are free to vibrate in an orbital path and .at high frequency. This specific mounting is ,the subject matter of claims in my said application.

The vibratory member I which for convenience I designate as an auxiliary vibratory member is mounted on a carriage designated generally by the numeral 25 and provided with rearwardly projectingarms 25' pivotally mounted at 26 on the forward end of the push bars l3. The auxiliary carriage 25 is provided with wheels 2'! adapted to travel on the form members 5. The auxiliary carriage is provided with a cross member 28 and carrying brackets .22 from which the vibratory element 1 is suspended as has been described for the element :6.

With the parts thus arranged, the vibratory elements act successively upon the material treated as has been described, the first element serving to partially vibrate and reduce the material to a spreadable condition and to spread the same so that the material is uniformly acted upon by the following vibratory element.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, a third vibratory element 29 is provided, that being supported to be advanced'in a plane somewhat above the element 1.

With this arrangement of the vibratory elements, I provide a machine or apparatus which may be operated very rapidly-that is, may be advanced rapidly to the work and at the same time the material is effectively treated. The machine or apparatus further practically eliminates the very arduous labor that has been required to partially level off the piles of concrete as they are normally discharged upon the foundation either from a truck or from the mixer.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various modifications or adaptations of my improvements as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a main carriage adapted to travel on form members, of a screed propelled with said carriage and provided with a face plate adapted to support a substantial mass of the material treated, a vertically adjustable vibratory element carrying frame comprising push bars pivotally mounted on said main frame to project forwardly therefrom, said frame being provided with wheels adapted to travel on the form members, an elongated submersible main vibratory element disposed horizontally in front of said screed, means on said frame forsupporting said main vibratory element, means for vibrating said vibratory element at high frequency, a wheeled auxiliary frame adapted to travel on the form members and pivotally mounted on the forward ends of said push bars, a horizontally disposed auxiliary vibratory element disposed in front of said main vibratory element, meansfor supporting said auxiliary vibratory element -on said auxiliary frame, and means for vibrating said auxiliary vibratory element, said vibratory elements being spaced relative to each other so that the main vibratory element acts upon the material while it is in a fluid condition as a result of the action of the auxiliary vibratory element upon the material and the main vibratory element being spaced relative to the screed so that the screed acts upon the material while it is in a fluid condition as a result of the action of the vibratory elements thereon.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a main carriage, of a screed propelled with said carriage and provided with a face plate adapted to support a substantial mass of the material treated, a vertically adjustable vibratory element carrying frame, an elongated submersible main vibratory element disposed horizontally in front of said screed, means on said frame for supporting said main vibratory element, means for vibrating said vibratory element, an auxiliary frame articulated to said vibratory element carrying frame, a horizontally disposed auxiliary vibratory element disposed in front of said main vibratory element, means for supporting said auxiliary vibratory element on said auxiliary frame, and means for vibrating said auxiliary vibratory element, said vibratory elements being spaced relative to each other so that the main vibratory element acts upon the material while it is in a fluid condition as a result of the action of the auxiliary vibratory element upon the material and the main vibratory element being spaced relative to the screed so that the screed acts upon the material while'it is in a fluid condition as a result of the action of the vibratory elements thereon.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated horizontally disposed submersible main vibratory element mounted for vertical adjustment, means for vibrating said vibratory element, an elongated horizontally disposed auxiliary vibratory member disposed in front of said main vibratory element and mounted for advancement at a predetermined elevation relative to said main vibratory element, and means for vibrating said auxiliary vibratory element, said auxiliary vibratory element being adapted to act upon the mass in advance of the main vibratory element and in such relation thereto that the vibratory impulses of the material of the main and auxiliary vibratory elements merge.-

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated submersible main vibrator element disposed transversely to its path of travel and for vibration in a substantial range of vertical adjustments, and, an auxiliary horizontally disposed elongated vibratory element disposed in advance of said main vibratory element and disposed transversely of its path of travel and in a plane substantially above an operative plane of the main vibratory element and in such relation thereto as to act upon the material treated in advance of the action thereon of the main vibratory element, said main and auxiliary vibratory elements being spaced relative to each other so that the main vibratory element acts upon the material treated while it is still subject to the vibrator impulses of the auxiliary vibratory element.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of elongated vibratory elements disposed horizontally and transversely of the path of travel thereof for advancement in different planes relative to the vertical, one of said vibratory elements being mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the plane of advancement of the other vibratory element, and means for vibrating said vibratory elements at high frequency and in orbital paths, said elements being in such relation to each other that the vibratory impulses imparted to the material treated by the vibratory elements merge.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plurality of elongated vibratory elements disposed horizontally and transversely of the path of travel thereof for advancement in different planes relative to the vertical, one of said vibratory elements being mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the plane of travel of the other vibratory element, and means for vibrating both of said vibratory elements at high frequency, the spaced relation of said vibratory elements being such that the trailing vibratory element acts upon the material acted upon by the first vibratory element while the material is in the fluid or semi-fluid condition produced therein by the first vibratory element.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with translating means, of a plurality of tubular vibratory elements disposed horizontally and transversely of the path of travel for simultaneous advancement and in a predetermined rela-tion one in advance of another to each other, and vibrating means carried by each element, the trailing vibratory element being mounted for vertical adjustment and being adapted to operate in a plane substantially below the plane of the leading vibratory element and so that it acts upon the material treated immediately after the leading vibratory element has acted thereon and prior to the material coming to a state of rest.

8. An apparatus for treating concrete of low water content in situ comp-risin a plurality of elongated vibratory elements disposed horizontally and transversely of the path of travel for simultaneous advancement, one in advance of the other, the trailing vibratory element being submersible in the material treated and mounted for vertical adjustment and operation in different positions of vertical adjustment, and means for independently vibrating said vibratory elements at high frequency, said vibratory elements being spaced relative to each other so that the trailing vibratory element acts upon the material treated while it is still in the fluid or semi-fluid condition induced therein by the action of the first element upon the material.

9. In an apparatus for making concrete pavements and the like, the combination of a series of elongated horizontally disposed vibratory elements mounted for simultaneous advancement in different horizontal planes, at least one of said members being submersible, and means for simultaneousl vibrating the elements at high frequency, the elements being so spaced relative to each other than one vibratory element acts upon the material acted upon by the preceding vibratory element while the material is in a fluid or semi-fluid condition as a result of the action thereon of the preceding element, there being an unobstructed space between the vibratory elements to permit free movement of the material between them. 1

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a screed provided with a face plate adapted to support a substantial mass of the material treated, an elongated submersible main vibratory element disposed horizontally in front of said screed, means for vertically adjusting said main vibratory element relative to said screed and supporting it for vibratory action in its adjusted positions, means for vibrating said main vibratory element, an elongated submersible horizontally disposed auxiliary vibratory element disposed in front of said main vibratory element, means for supporting said auxiliary vibratory element for vertical adjustment and for vibratory action in its adjusted positions, means for vibrating said auxiliary vibratory element, said auxiliary vibratory element being adapted and acting to produce a fluid or semi-fluid condition in the mass treated and said main vibratory element being so spaced relative to the auxiliary vibratory element and to the screed that the main vibratory element acts upon the material acted upon by the auxiliary vibrator element While the material is in the fluid or semifluid condition produced therein by the auxiliary vibratory element and the screed acts upon the material acted upon by the vibratory elements while it is in the fluid or semi-fluid condition produced therein by the combined action of said vibratory elements.

plate adapted to support a substantial mass of the material treated, an elongated submersible main vibratory elements disposed horizontally in front of said screed, means for vibrating said main vibratory element, an elongated submersible horizontally disposed auxiliary vibratory element disposed in front of said main vibratory element, and means for vibrating said auxiliary vibratory element, said auxiliary vibratory element being adapted and acting to produce a fluid or semifluid condition in the mass treated and said main vibratory element being so spaced relative to the auxiliary vibratory element and to the screed that the main vibratory element acts upon the material acted upon by the auxiliary vibratory element while the material is in the fluid '-or semi-fluid condition produced therein by the auxiliary vibratory element and the screed acts upon the material acted upon by the vibratory elements while it is in the fluid or semi-fluid condition produced therein by the combined action of said vibratory elements.

' CORWILL JACKSON. 

